By Jenna Weber

Last week brought our first cold front here in Northern California, as well as my first pesky cold of the season. I used the opportunity to test a new winter soup recipe—Kale and White Bean With Golden Beets and Spicy Sausage—and it was a success! Full of healthy kale, beets, carrots, and beans, this soup will surely perk you up. Other meals this week include a delicious breakfast quesadilla loaded with scrambled eggs, goat cheese, spinach, and sausage, and a vegetarian fried rice that’s the perfect solution to using leftovers from dinner earlier in the week. Enjoy!  

Grocery list
1/2 lb. spicy chicken sausage
2 medium-sized golden beets
2 large carrots
1 stalk celery
1 leek
2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth
2 cans (15 oz. each) white beans
1 large bunch green kale
1 cup short-grain brown rice
Coconut oil
Sesame oil
1 bag baby carrots
6 green onions
1 cup shelled (and steamed) edamame
Soy sauce
8 tortillas
1 dozen eggs
1 container goat-cheese crumbles
1 box veggie sausage
1 bag part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
Butter
1 large bag fresh baby spinach

Kale and White Bean Soup With Golden Beets and Spicy Sausage
Sip a bowl of this healthy soup to ward off pesky colds!

Serves 6

1/2 lb. spicy chicken sausage, casing removed and thickly sliced
2 medium-sized golden beets, peeled and diced
2 large carrots, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 leek, thinly sliced
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth
2 cans (15 oz. each) white beans, drained and rinsed
1 large bunch green kale, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. pepper

1. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat and add thinly sliced leeks. Saute for 5 minutes, then add sausage.

2. Brown sausage, then add carrots, beets, and celery. Toss to combine and continue cooking for another 6 minutes. Add kale and beans and cook until kale just starts to wilt.

3. Add chicken broth, salt, red pepper flakes, and pepper, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 25 minutes.

4. Serve with warm, crusty, sourdough bread on the side.

Next page: Vegetarian Fried Rice